Awning



Patented Apr. 21, 1931 JACQUES WECI-ISLER, OF NORTH ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY AWN IN G Application filed October 11, 1930. Serial N 0. 487,943.

This invention relates generally to awnings, and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel awning which may be folded into a relatively small space.

Awnings as heretofore generally constructed have U-shaped metal frames of substantially rigid shape. As these frames are necessarily of a size suficient to span windows, porches and other building areas, they are usually quite bulky so that when the same are removed from their useful locations as for winter storage, they are difficult to handle and ofttimes can hardly be passed through doors or other openings. Also, owing to the rigid U-shaped form of the awning frames, the awnings when stored take up a relatively large storage space, thereby necessitating copious and ofttinies expensive storage facilities.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel awning so con structed and arranged as to be capable of folding up into a relatively small space, when desired, as for storing purposes.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a novel awning having a foldable frame, the struts of the frame being hingedly connected to the cross-bar thereof and arranged to be folded over and uponthe cross bar, so that the frame will take up but relatively little storage space.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a simple awning of sturdy, rugged construction which positively retains its U-shape against all extraneous forces when in use and which has a long life.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated, will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the same.

The invention is clearly ilustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a view in elevation looking at the 4 novel awning of this invention from the rear or from the building to which the awning is attached;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view with parts broken away taken along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 1 is a view showing the awning of Fig. 1 in the process of being folded preparatory to storing;

Fig. 5 is a plan view with parts broken away of an awning frame suitable for use with large awnings, the cross-bar of the frame being shown as made up of foldable sections;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along line 66 of Fig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a plan view with parts broken away showing the awning frame of Fig. 5 in folded condition; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary views illustrating a corner of the awning frame in open and folded positions respectively, the said views showing the use of a modified form of connecting fitting.

Similar characters of references are employed in all of the above views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to said drawings, the reference numeral 1 designates an awning embodying the principles of the present invention. Awning 1 comprises the usual canvas or other fabric covering having an inclined front wall 2 and side walls 3 and 4c. The upper edge portion of the front wall 2 is provided with the usual fasteners 5 for attaching this upper edge portion to a supporting structure such as the window frame 6 shown in Fig. 2, the awning 1 serving as an overhanging cover or protection for the window opening 7.

The fabric covering of the awning 1 is held in its open or extended position, illustrated in 'Fig. 1, by a U-shaped frame comprising a cross-bar 8 and side struts 9 and 10 which are hingedly connected to the cross-bar and are adapted to fold inwardly upon the crossbar. The ends of the cross-bar 8 are threaded into axial recesses 11 provided in the opposed end portions of oppositely disposed cylindrical fittings 12. The other end portions of the fittings 12 are slot-ted or bifurcated for receiving hinge blocks 13 of rectangular cross-section which are firmly retained in fixed position within the slots of the fittings 12 by rivets 15 extending through the bifurcated ends of these fittings and through the hinge blocks 13. Hinge blocks 13 extend rearwardly from the bifurcated end portions of the fittings 12 and project into receiving slots provided in the bifurcated ends of iittings 16 which are respectively threaded upon the outerendsof the struts 9 a d 10. The jecting portions of binge bl 11; con hinge knuckles which are h edly connected to the bifurcated ends of ht 19 by vertically extending pivotal pins or rivets 17. The opposed corners of the hinge knuckle portions of hinge blocks 13 are rounded or beveled at 14:. so that struts 9 and 10 may be turned inwardly about the vertical pins 17 into folded position against the or ss'bar 2. The outer corners of the hinge knuckle portions of the hinge blocks 13 are square as shown in Fig. which square corners form stops 2- which engage the bottoms of the slots in the bifurcated ends 0 fittings 16 and prevent the awning iranie from being accidentally distoited from its U-shape form in use illustrated in Fig. 2, as would otherwise result from the effect of side winds upon the awning. The stops 2% prevent the struts 9 and 10 from being turned outwardly beyond the perpendicular with respect to the cross-bar 2 and act conjointly to maintain the struts at right angles to the crossbar when the awning is mounted on the frame 6 in use.

The inner corners of the bifurcated ends of the fittings 16 are rounded as at 18 so that struts 9 and 10 may be turned about the pivotal pins 17 into overlying folded position upon the cross-bar 8. The spacing of pivotal pins 17 from the rivets 15 permits the folding of the struts 9 and 10 upon the cross-bar, when desired. The inner ends of struts 9 and 10 are threaded into axial recesses 19 provided in eye fittings 20. the eyes of which are adapted to engage boots or other supporting means 21 extending from the window frame 6.

The canvas or fabric covering of the awning is attached to the awning frame by canvas or fabric strips 22 at the sides of the awning, and the canvas or fabric strip 23 at the front of the awning. Strips overlie side struts 9 and 10 and have their upper and lower marginal edges sewn to the side walls 3 and 4, respectively, whereas the can vas strip 23 overlies the cross-bar 8 and has its upper and lower marginal edges sewn to the front wall 2.

Since the pivotal pins 17 are vertically disposed when the awning mounted in use. as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. it is impossible for a. cross-bar 8 to turn downwardly with respect to the struts 9 and 10. and hence the crossbar is rigidly held in the horizontal plane of these struts. The awning cannotbe collapsed by side pressure, such as that caused by wind pressure against either of the sides 3 or 4, beer use of the engagement of the stops 24 with the bottom of the slots in the bifurcated ends of fittings 16, and therefore it will be apparent that when the awning is mounted in use, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the frame thereof is substantially rigid and cannot be accidentally collapsed.

Vhen it is desired to remove the frame, as for the purpose of placing the same in winter storage, the eye fittings 20 are removed from the hooks 2i and the struts 9 and 10 are turned or folded inwardly upon the crossbar 8. The slight clearance between the bifurcated ends of fittings 1.6 and the knuckle portions of the hinge blocks, permits the struts 9 and 10 to be folded alongside one another and adjacent the cross-bar 8. Fig. 4 illustrates the folding operation and shows how the struts 9 and 10 are folded upon the cross-bar in side by side relation when it desired to store the awning. The canvas portion of the awning may then be wrapped around the folded awning frame, thereby making a very compact bundle which enables the ready carrying of the collapsed awning to the place of storage and reducing the storage space occupied by each awning to a minimum.

When the awning is of considerable width, the cross-bar 8 may be made in two sections 8S, illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, which sections are hingodly connected together. The opposed inner ends of the cross-bar sections 88 have fittings 26 threaded thereon. Fittings 26 have opposed bifurcated ends which are pivotally connected by hinge pins 27 to a connecting link 28 which lies within the bifurcations of the fittings 26. The corners of the connecting link 28 at the inner side of the awning are rounded at 29 to permit the inward turning of the cross-bar sections 88 about the hinge pins 27 toward one another and into folded position. The corners of the connecting link at the outer side of the awning are square to form stops 25 which cooperate with the bottom of the slots in the bifurcated. ends of fittings 26 to prevent accidental collapse of the awning frame when mounted inv position in use.

To stiffen the connection of the sections 8S when the awning is mounted in use, a bar 31 is illustrated as connecting the opposed fittings 26. Bar 31 is pivotally connected as by a. screw 32 to one of the fittings 2G and it is adapted to engage a screw 33 on the other of the fittings 26. The bar 31 is slotted at 34 (see Fig. 6) which slot extends into a screw head receiving aperture \Vhen bar 1 is turned from its position shown in Fig. 6 into the position shown in Fig. 5, screw 33 engages in the recess 35, thereby stiffening the connection of sections 8'- and preventing the folding of these sections, as will be apparent.

When it is desired to fold the awning frame having the cross-bar sections 88, the struts 9 and 10 together with fittings 12, a returned angularly somewhat about their connections with the cross-bar sections 8'8. This is accomplished by turning fittings 12 angularly with respect to the threaded outer ends of sections 88'. This angular turning of the struts with respect to the cross-bar sections is necessary so that the struts will be out of the way of the cross-bar sections, when these sections are folded upon one another, as illustrated in Fig. 7. Struts 9 and 10 may be turned angularly either 90 or 180 with respect to the axis of cross-bar sections 88 from their positions shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 7 the struts 9 and 10 are illustrated as having been turned to an angle of 180 from their positions shown in Fig. 5. It will be noted that when the cross-bar sections are folded upon one another, the head of screw 33 will clear the end of bar 31, as is desired. This is accomplished by positioning screws 32 and 33 at unequal distances from the center of link 28 as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be noted that although the novel awning of this invention may readily be folded for purposes of storage, yet while the same is mounted in use, an absolutely rigid U- shaped frame is provided which will withstand all disturbing forces and maintain the awning in proper shape.

Instead of using fittings 12 and 16 and th cooperating hinge blocks 13 for connecting the ends of the cross-bar to the side struts, a simpler construction illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 may be used. In these figures, the cross-bar 8 is illustrated as connected to the side struts 9 by the use of two similar fittings 37 which are threaded upon the ends of the cross-bar and side struts respectively. These fittings have flat knuckles 38 formed thereon, which knuckles overlap one another and are pivotally connected as by a rivet or pivotal pin 39. Each of the knuckles 38 is provided with a stop portion or stop 40 which, by-

engaging the shoulder formed at the juncture of the knuckle with the cylindrical portion of the cooperating tting, prevents the unfolding of the strut 9 beyond a right angle position with respect to the cross-bar 8, as illustrated in Fig. 8. lVhen the awning is in its open position shown in Fig. 8, which corresponds to the position of the awning shown in Fig. 2, the stop 40 serves to prevent the collapse of the awning when side or other pressures are exerted thereupon.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is 1. An awning having a fabric covering and an awning frame therefor, said frame comprising a cross-bar extending along the forward part of the awning, said cross bar consisting of hingedly connected sections, and side struts extending along the sides of said awning, said respective side struts being hingedly connected to the respective ends of said cross bar.

2. An awning having a fabric covering and an awning frame therefor, said frame comprising a cross-bar extending along the forward part of the awning, said cross bar consisting of hingedly connected sections and side struts extending along the sides of said awning said respective side struts being hingedly connected to the respective ends of said cross bar, and stop means embodied in the hinged connections of said awning frame for retaining said awning frame in rigid U shape when said awning is mounted in use.

3. In an awning a crossbar extending along the forward part of said awning said cross-bar. comprising a pair of sections, a connecting link, fittings secured to the adjacent ends of said sections, said fittings having bifurcated end portions cooperating with said connecting link, hinge pins extending through said bifurcated end portions and said connecting link for pivotally connecting said sections to said connecting link, whereby said sections may be folded together.

4:. In an awning, a cross-bar extending transversely along the forward part of said awning, said cross-bar comprising a pair of sections, a connecting link, fittings secured to the adjacent ends of said sections, said fittings having bifurcated end portions cooperating with said connecting link, hinge pins extending through said bifurcated end portions and said connecting link for pivotally connecting said sections to said connecting link, whereby said sections may be folded together, said connecting link having stop portions for engaging the bifurcated end portions of said fittings to limit the turning of said sections away from each other, so that when said sections are in their outermost turned positions they will be in axial alignment.

5. In an awning, a cross-bar extending transversely along the forward part of said awning, said cross-bar comprising a pair of sections, a connecting link, fittings secured to the adjacent ends of said sections, said fittings having bifurcated end portions cooperating with said connecting link, hinge pins extending through said bifurcated end portions and said connecting link for pivotally connecting said sections to said connecting link whereby said sections may be folded together, said connecting link having stop portions for engaging the bifurcated end portions of said fittings to limit the turning of said sections away from each other, so that when said sections are in. their outermost turned positions they will be in axial align- 5 ment, and a bar pivotally mounted on one of said fittings and turnable into engagement with the other of said fittings for retaining said sections in axial alignment.

6. An awning having a fabric covering and an awning frame attached thereto, said frame comprising a cross-bar extending along the forward part of said awning, side struts extending along the sides of said awning, fittings secured respectively to the "forward ends of said respective side struts and similar fittings secured to the ends of said cross-bar, said crossbar fittings having portions thereof overlapping similar portions of the fittings on the ends of said side struts, pivotal pins hingedly connecting said mutually overlapping portions for pivotally connecting said side struts to said cross-bar, whereby said side struts may be folded over and upon said crossbar.

7. An awning having a fabric covering and an awning frame attach ed thereto, said frame comprising a cross-bar extending transverse- 1y along the forward part of said awning, a pair of side struts extending along the sides of said awning and adapted for attachment at their rear ends to a supporting surface, fittings secured respectii'ely to the forward ends of said respective side struts and similar cooperating fittings secured respectively to the ends of said cross-bar, said fittings having hinge knuckles formed thereon and pivotal pins extending through said hinge knuckles for pivotally connecting said side struts to said cross-bar, whereby said side 40 struts may be folded over and upon said crossbar. said knuckles having stops formed thereon cooperating with the main portions of said fittings for limiting the outward turning movement of each of said side struts to an angle of substantially 90 with respect to said cross-bar.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of September. 1930.

JACQUES VECHSLER.

ILAJ: 

